I note that a lot of posts have advised to drink a lot of water, particularly to avoid headaches in the early stages. If I drink a lot of water, I tend to make more frequent trips to the bathroom. Will that cause the medication to leave the body more quickly?

Not really..but it will help flush out lots of impurities that have been hiding in your system. It helps with anxiety, asthma, headaches and more. When you dehydrate... your whole body shuts down a little at a time. If you are pregnant(not saying you are) .... you can go into labor from not having enough water in your system.

The next time any one who reads this... has an anxiety attack or asthma attack.. get a glass of water and drink it slowly, but drink the whole thing. I myself have done this. It helps first of all to get your mind off whatever is bothering you for the few seconds it takes you to get the water.
Secondly, it hydrates you.

I've noticed less headaches when I do this. I've noticed the ability to breathe better. I've noticed less of the chest pains associated with an attack of any kind. Other than that.. follow what the doctor tells you.

JMO.. I hope it helps!

no it will not cause the drugs to leave your body more quickly,

They have to be digested by the body first. not having enough water will make make side effects worse, it will blur your ability to think clearly, (this can start with as little as a 2% of lean body weight, a person with a lean body mass of 190 lbs can begin to lose cognitave function by being down as little as 3.8 lbs just under 1/2 gallon and most of us are perpetually this dehydrated or more. )

also many times thirst is mistaken for hunger, we eat something to help with the "hunger" and only make it worse.

and last but not least most of these meds require you to be fully hydrated to work properly. and coke doesnt count.

GA,
Do these meds dehydrate us? I had a heck of a time doing even simple math today. I have not increased my water intake at all.

I note that a lot of posts have advised to drink a lot of water, particularly to avoid headaches in the early stages. If I drink a lot of water, I tend to make more frequent trips to the bathroom. Will that cause the medication to leave the body more quickly?
There's drinking water, and there's drinking water. If you gulp down a whole glass of water, chances are you will have a trip to the bathroom pretty soon afterwards. However, if you drink it slowly then you'll find that you won't. Slowly being the whole glass in 30 minutes/hour.

if you do that and you still find that you're visiting the bathroom - you're hydrated.

I have been both very well hydrated (some might even say "over-hydrated"), and dehydrated while on Adderall. I haven't noticed that more water reduces the effect or duration of the med...I just have to go a lot (to the Lou...btw I am not British, just like to bust out the occasional rhyme :rolleyes:

Being dehydrated on the med is truly wretched, however. If you are a female, dehydration + stimulant = potential UTI (not fun).

I also get tired, can't think clearly (well, even less clearly than normal anyway), feel nauseous, lightheaded, etc... The adderall works the best for me when I'm feeling well.

Cheers! :)

Whenever I take adderall and study I always have a jug of water next to me, usually like a gallon (I know its excessive but I like to stay seated as long as possible). Drinking it really really does help relieve the withdrawals. I've notice it come quite handy when I will get exercised-induced asthma. So drink up!

GA,
Do these meds dehydrate us? I had a heck of a time doing even simple math today. I have not increased my water intake at all.


All stims raise core body temperature and water consumption,(by the body) so the need for hydration is much higher for us than norms,

so, I guess In effect they do, but it is not that simple.

In reality they merely increase our need for water. It is up to us to get it, if you have not increased your water intake the likelyhood that you are at least mildly dehydrated is quite high.

check out the symptoms for dehydration... sounds alot like "Rebound"

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dehydration/DS00561/DSECTION=2

:cool::D

From the link above

Unfortunately, thirst isn't always a reliable gauge of the body's need for water, especially in children and older adults. A better barometer is the color of your urine: clear or light-colored urine means you're well hydrated, whereas a dark yellow or amber color usually signals dehydration

if your urine is yellow at all you are at least mildly dehydrated.

it is a simple and quick way to tell.... it should be relatively clear.

I checked out this thread because I know the dehydration was one of my teen ds' biggest issues with both ADD meds he has tried.

He was so thirsty he couldn't stand it. Although allowed to eat and drink if needed with a dr.'s note, some teachers were ugly about it. Ditto for restroom privileges. He has a dr.'s note for IBS but they still give him a hard time because a lot goes on in the rrs (like smoking).

He finally got so angry and upset he refused to take meds anymore. He doesn't believe that there is one out there that will help him without making him miserable.

Today he tentatively tried a Focalin XR 5 mg. I wonder if it will affect him at all (assuming that's a really low dose since it's the first time he's tried that med). I am scared he will not want one tomorrow if today doesn't go well.